All too often we feel as though it’s the end when we are stuck in a mental rut, we feel as though there’s no way of getting out of this feeling and that we are stuck in this experience forever. Well, I have good news for you – that’s not the case. I am constantly preaching about how important it is to look after your body, keep yourself healthy to allow a better quality of life for yourself and although I have integrated it in a few blog posts here and there, I want to put greater emphasis on how important it is to look after your mental health in this blog post.

I was recently in a bit of a mental rut – Allowing the smallest of things get to me, uni to get the best of me and instead of actively trying to fix it, I allowed it to consume me which in turn it affected different aspects of my life. After really being sick of feeling like this I started brainstorming ways to improve how I feel and take control, here’s how I helped myself get unstuck.

Youtube Videos

I was at the point where I was willing to do and watch anything that could possibly spark some sort of inspiration inside of myself – the first thing I did was search for motivational videos. This lead me to the worm hole of Tedx Talks by many incredible psychologists and their different ways of approaching these slumps and bumps in life.

Pride is such a big thing when it comes to people being right and wrong. A person would rather not admit that they were wrong and find ways to actively fix their behaviour then admit it and find solutions to create a better quality of life for themselves both physically and mentally. It lead me to realise that although there were so many external things affecting how I felt there and then and waiting for those to change, I needed to get up and change what I have control over, realising this was a game changer for me.

Podcasts

I get very tired of being on my phone or looking at a screen so a podcast was the next best thing for me – although it’s on my phone, I can set up a playlist, put my phone aside and take it all in without the distraction of social media and the internet. I like to just get up in the morning, whilst I get ready for the day pop on a podcast of interest whether it’s motivational or about nutrition, it’s a great way to learn and get different perspectives on similar topics.

The first two things are easy to do, right? Just hop onto your phone and laptop and watch/listen to people talking, however this next thing has to be the most difficult of all because it requires the most effort – Practice.

Practice

One thing that kept coming up from every podcast and every video I watched was persistence. Persistence is the key to everything. Put it this way; it’s better to eat well for 5 out of 7 days of the week for the entire year rather than perfectly for two full weeks out of the year. The same applies for your mental health, practicing what you preach for one or two day’s won’t make a difference for the rest of your life. It’s something that you need to consciously make an effort to do every single day and hopefully, it’ll become second nature for you.

Here are some simple tips to practicing a healthier mentality:

1. Don’t worry about things you can’t control, other people’s actions and other people’s responses, their negativity, anger has nothing to do with you so don’t concern yourself with it.
2. Wake up with a proactive mindset instead of saying ‘what does today have in store for me’ say ‘What can I give the world today’?’ From the minute you wake up, you set the tone for your day. YOU have control over how you’re going to handle the stresses and the obstacle that need to be overcome and in summary, ou determine how your day is going to be, not anyone else unless you allow them to.
3. Be selfish. Ask yourself, ‘What can you do selfishly, to be selfless?’ It sounds a bit counter productive but hear me out, I heard a great example that went like this; if a plane was going down you need to put your gas mask on first, why? Because you can’t help someone else put their mask on if you’re dead. Now think of that in life terms, you can’t pour from an empty cup so look after yourself first so you can fill yourself up and begin to share with others.

I know how difficult it can be to try and pull yourself out of these mental ruts and i’m nowhere near to perfecting it but we all have to start somewhere. You have to WANT to start somewhere to make a change in your life. When I was going through this all I wanted was to read something like this blog post that could set me on the right path and that’s why I am making this for you – in the hopes to inspire you to actively change your mental path for the better.

Always remember that any step that you take to change your life for the better is a step in the right direction, even if it is just making your bed in the morning or watching a motivational video!

If you have some tips that you use to help you get out of these funks, please comment them below! I believe that every person has some ideas and ways that we could benefit from.

I’ve been on this health and fitness journey for about 5 years now, i’m an avid believer in a healthy active lifestyle but that isn’t only going for a run or to the gym but also what you eat, how much you eat and when you eat it.

Growing up my family has always been very active and fairly healthy. We would eat steak and salads, roasted vegetables and roast chicken but with that said there are definitely many things that we could do to improve our eating habits in and around the kitchen.

I think that every person is subject to their own ‘diet’. I’ve tried many things to see what works for my body and what doesn’t, what leaves me fuller for longer and what makes me feel fatigued really quickly – i’ve been vegetarian, i’ve been paleo, i’ve been ‘eat whatever you want and hope for the best’ but over the years i’ve really got the hang of what I love to eat and what fuels me the right way. Nowadays I’d say i’m more of a paleo based eater – I don’t eat many grains, however I do enjoy the odd rice bowl here and there. I don’t have lactose, although I am not lactose intolerant I find that having milk or yoghurt makes me extremely nauseous and so I prefer to steer clear of it.

After years of understanding my body and food I like to call myself an intuitive eater, I listen to my body and I give it what it needs whether that’s fruit, veggies, nuts, chicken or meat, smoothies – whatever else, even sometimes chocolate! You don’t have to eat how I eat but I hope it inspires you to find out more about what your body enjoys on your fitness journey!

I was home for 3 months on holiday before going back to uni and I think that was the most difficult part about eating healthy. My mum loves spoiling me and buying me my favourite chocolates and feeding me my favourite meals however, it’s also the easiest way to derail from the point of the healthy lifestyle. (It’s okay mom, still love you!)

I find that in my area there really is a shortage of farmers markets and places to get food other then the supermarkets so when I go, I definitely try to keep it as organic and as free range as possible (as much as the budget can allow ofcourse) but if you live near food markets that offer these then go for it! You’ll probably save a bunch too!

I would say healthy snacks are one of the easier ways to keep it healthy whether you are at home or not, I always like to make sure that i’m fully stocked on those so when I am feeling peckish and go to the fridge or pantry – there is always something good and wholesome for me to eat.

FIRST GROCERY TIP: Go shopping with a snack or some water, never on an empty stomach or else you’ll end up buying the whole shop and getting things you don’t really need! Trust me, I’ve been there!

SECOND TIP: I’ve learned that it’s best to stick to the parameters of the supermarket just because that’s usually where all the fresh produce is, the stuff in the middle can get a bit confusing and seem healthy when it’s not but there are a few things I do get from the middle but then I know there is a plan and a purpose, not just wandering around aimlessly.

THIRD TIP: Don’t fixate too much on labels. Although its important to understand what you are buying and are going to put into your body – I find that the more people fixate, the less enjoyable it comes. Start small and grow from there.

FOURTH TIP: Keep it sustainable. The way 2019 is going, it’s shameful to not try and reduce, reuse and recycle EVERYTHING. I would highly recommend keeping already used grocery bags / material bags in your boot so that when you go to the shops, you don’t have to purchase some more!

This grocery shop was a stock up of the big one I did last week. Other things I add to my list is Almond milk and Kombucha, which I find really helps with my digestive system / IBS, Gluten free choc chip cookies (guilty pleasure), Spinach – the darker the green, the better it is for you! I also add fruits such as banana’s, strawberries which are high in a antioxidants and grapes. Although I don’t eat it often, I buy the brown and wild rice for those days where im craving something hearty!

FIFTH TIP: Do your own grocery shopping. I always find that when I do the shopping, there is less chance of me buying things I shouldn’t be buying.

Getting healthy definitely is a personal thing, you have to make the decision and commit to it but once you get the knick of it, it’s so much more inviting and exciting!

Second year Sports Science, here we go!

For those who know me and are yet to know me, there is one thing that i’m pretty good at (if I say so myself) and that’s organizing, whether it’s my wardrobe or my uni books you can bet it’s colour coded and in alphabetical order.

I know things can get a little crazy, very quickly as university starts but there are a few things I do to help minimise the chaos. Although this may just work for me, maybe it’ll spark some ideas on how to keep you on par with the happenings of work, notes, tests and yourself! So with university just being a few weeks away; here are some things that help me stay on track of my work and help me stay a little sane too!

First, let’s start with the exciting stuff: Stationary.

I am a sucker for a good stationary shop, It’s got to be one of my most exciting things to do before going back to uni (I know i’m not the only one). Last year I had a way of organizing all my uni work that worked for me so that’s what i’m doing this year, if it’s not broken why fix it right!? So here are my stationary essentials for 2019;

Black files; I only have two of these – one for each semester. Although I have quite a few more subjects this year, I like to have one space where everything is. There is honestly nothing worse then scrounging around in a hurry trying to find something just because you can’t remember where you last placed it! I find that having one for each semester just makes the whole process easier and much more convenient!

If I do run out of space, I would separate my files into terms rather then semesters. That way all the necessary subjects and modules for that specific term is in one place.

Pastel coloured highlighters, dividers and side stickers.

I’m the type of person that feels organized once everything is colour coded, so I always make sure that my highlighters, dividers and stickers all have similar colours so that each subject has its own colour. I use the highlighters to help me focus on the important information rather than the lump sum and the dividers do what their name implies, divide my subjects from one another. I use the side stickers for each chapter that Ive made notes for and it also makes it easier to see whats what when the file is shut. Im honestly a sucker for this stuff!

This may be an obvious one but definitely a necessary one. A diary. I find that this is the most important thing to help me stay organised and on track for the year. I use it for everything from birthdays, exam dates to blog posts and ideas – it doesn’t leave my side. Sometimes things make more sense when they are written down rather then typed into notes on your phone, well for me in any case!

Because self-care is my number one priority in 2019, what’s uni essentials without some beauty essentials, am I right? Here are a few things that help me stay relaxed during the most stressful times at uni.

A face mask, its no news that if you want to feel like you remotely have everything together you should just put on a face mask, right? Well truth be told, there were been many times where thats exactly what I did to help me feel a little bit more put together then what I actually was!

I love this L’oreal face mask because it’s quick, only 10 minutes and it leaves my skin feeling so smooth and much brighter. I know it only said up to 7-10 face masks but I’ve honestly used it way more than 10 times and I still have a way to go – you don’t need to have a thick layer of it on, even the smallest amount makes the biggest difference!

I am a firm believer that your productivity is determined by your routine. From eating, gymming, even showering etc thats why when I give myself some ‘me time’, I make sure it is with products that I love. For Christmas, I got this gorgeous smelling body wash by iwori, Beauty of Africa – Ive honestly never smelt something so good before and so I have especially saved it for when I go back to uni.

This may seem like a bit of an odd one to some but if i’m having a bit of a stressed day or just need to relax for a second or two, I light some candles and switch on my himalayan salt lamp – it instantly relaxes the air and I instantly feel better. I love the aura these two things combined, project. 10/10 recommend both! This candle is a bit of a 2 in 1. It’s the royal botanicals Ditch Iris soy massage candle, first of all it smells like what dreams are made of and secondly, once it has been lit for a while – once you’ve blown it out and the wax has cooled, you can use it and massage it into your skin – amazing.

I would love to hear what your uni essential are? I have plenty space on my ever growing list 😉 

2018 has come and it has gone. I can’t say that i’m sad to say goodbye to the year but I am thankful for everything it taught me!

First of all, I want to say hello and welcome to my blog – whether you are new here or have come to visit my site before, I hope 2019 brings all the success and luck you deserve! I quickly want to say a personal thank you to my readers, those people that like, share, comment & read my blogs. I’m forever grateful for all the support you guys have shown me over the last year – I absolutely love writing these posts and seeing any kind of response from you guys just makes it all the more enjoyable! So thank YOU!

With starting university in 2018, I didn’t write as many posts as id have liked but when I got a chance – I loved it. Let’s have a look at some of my favourite posts from 2018!

Swimming my way through the ocean exhibit | Two Oceans Aquarium

This day has definitely got to be one of my favourites of the year, swimming with turtles & snorkeling around the edge of the ocean exhibit was the ultimate highlight for me!

Towards the end of the year I started getting a feel for what I wanted my blog to be about & how I wanted to present it to you guys – I think most of my favourite posts from 2018 definitely come from December.

5 Ways to an Environmentally Friendly Christmas | Gift Wrapping Ideas

This post has got to be my most loved of the year – It made me so happy to see people interested in wanting to find ways to be more eco friendly for our environment!

Lessons I’ve Learned in 12 Months | 2018 in Review

I’ve always enjoyed reflecting on the things i’ve gone through and learned at the end of the year. I felt that, although personal this post was one of the most insightful one’s I had written!

I really hope to only grow my blog this year and continue to inspire you all. I’m so excited to see where we can go from here!

For some reason, I have this habit of writing out my New Year resolutions. Whether it be in a journal or a blog post so this year, I thought a blog post was fitting. I find that if I’ve written it down somewhere, I can go back to it and I keep myself accountable for the things I want to achieve throughout the year but also in the hopes to spark some inspiration for those reading this.

Usually at the start if every year I have my plans and goals set out but this year is different, it just feels different. I have this new fire in my belly, this excitement and curiosity for what 2019 has in store for myself. I havent gone into the year putting the pressure on myself to achieve certain fitness goals and to eat clean for a certain amount of days and to be honest, I think that’s why I feel so good about this year.

Don’t get me wrong, I definitely have resolutions and goals to achieve but I feel comfortable with them. I don’t feel the pressures coming from different directions, it’s just me and my goals in my own time. I’ve been thinking about what I want my resolutions to be, for a few days now and I had the same thing pop into my head repeatedly – I want to improve who I was in 2018.

2018 was a huge learning curve for me, I grew a lot and I want to grow on that. I want to do better and be better, I want to be kinder to myself for myself. I know we can all get a little lost trying to see the bigger picture, including myself – I want to allow myself to enjoy the little things without worrying about the big things.

I like to think I am a pretty organised person and i’m sure a few family and friends would vouch for that, however sometimes my organisation gets lost amidst the chaos of university. I want to practice keeping things and areas clutter free to avoid a cluttered mind!

Health and fitness is and always will be a goal of mine, but it’s a consistent goal that i’m constantly working on – one I don’t think will ever be fully complete because there is always room for improvement. That’s why this year, although focusing on those aspects, there are other parts of my life that I was to focus more on. Self-care is a high priority for this year, we can all get carried away by life doing it’s thing, I know I do. Many times last year did it lead me to exhaustion and being burned out, getting i’ll a lot quicker then usual and having no energy for anything but to sleep. We all work best when we are feeling our best so here’s where I am at with this. I had this bad habit of studying for something ridiculous like 8 hours a time and if I wrote an exam every second or third day I would go into complete hibernation and not leave my apartment (how am I not a crazy lady yet? I’m not sure) so I’ve realised that this year I need to practice taking some more time off as well as some me time.

I have many goals for my blog, I want to post more often and inspire those during the most difficult times. Uni is my number one priority however, my blog literally keeps me sane so I want to work on balancing those two things without the added pressure of deadlines.

As selfish as you may think this sounds, 2019 is all about me and contentment, with that said I think it’s the year to make it all about you, too. Without shame, without guilt but with pure love and kindness for yourself. You deserve it just as much as I know I do.

So what about you? What are you doing in your life to make 2019 your best year yet? I’m looking forward to being one step closer to being fully content and if you’re there already, kudos to you, you’re an inspiration to us all!

Rolling over into the new year has got to be one of my favourite feelings. There is so much hope and opportunity for what’s to come, for what you can create. If things didn’t pan out the previous year, you get another chance to achieve whatever you want!

I don’t know about you but I’m definitely guilty for writing out a whole long list of New Year resolutions and not getting past the first one. When writing out a full list of goals and resolutions, it can seem quite daunting and overwhelming and could quite possibly be why most of them don’t see the light of day. That’s why I want to help you create measurable New Year Resolutions for yourself (and myself, let’s be real!) We all know the aim of these resolutions is to carry them out throughout the year and in turn, hopefully start a new healthier lifestyle for ourselves, here are four simple steps you can follow to guide you into the right path for the New Year!

It starts with you.

No goal will begin or end if you aren’t in it 110%. When creating your resolutions you have to be inspired about it, when you are motivated and excited to start doing something it’s going to be a lot easier to continue them instead of it feeling like a chore. You can take a goal that has been lingering at the back of your mind for months if not years and use that to your advantage – if it has been there and it’s something you still think about then it’s something you need to go and grab (sounds like something I say to myself when I see a cute bag at the shop) and use that motivation. It’ll manifest itself into greater things!

Make sure your goals are realistic and measurable.

This is something I live by, whenever I create goals for myself throughout the year I try my utmost best to make sure they are realistically achievable within my specific timeframe. The goals you want to create can be as big or as small as you want them to be, just make sure that they aren’t so overwhelming that you don’t want to try at all! (I’ve been there all too many times). I like to create a main goal for myself and then break it up into smaller segments, I find this helps not only to make things seem less cluttered but also helps me stay accountable to my goals.

Find an accountability partner, whatever the goal.

There are going to be many moments throughout that you are going to feel uninspired and unmotivated, as though you’re getting nowhere so you may as well quit – don’t worry, that’s normal! That’s why on days where you’re finding it difficult to get yourself out of the house, knowing that someone on the other side is also counting on you to help achieve their goals makes it a lot easier! Plus; once you’re there you’ll be thanking yourself for it. With that said, it’s important to be kind to yourself and remember that slow progress is still progress. Although it sometimes seems easy to lose sight of the bigger picture, every small step counts towards your goals and still makes a difference. Keep going, you got this! You’re capable of great things, believe it.

Start small.

Success doesn’t happen overnight and neither does progress. It’s something you have to work on every day, little by little. Easing yourself into achieving your goals, doing one small change every day and practicing those changes will make the whole process a lot easier and a lot more maintainable for the rest of the year. Eventually it’ll become second nature, just persevere and have patience!

I know this isn’t me telling you exactly how to achieve your goals and make them realistic but if you take your inspirations, follow these steps and trust yourself – I promise you, you’ll reap the rewards you just need to be mindful and also remember that it is a lot easier to write 10 goals down on a piece of paper than go out and make them happen. You’re only human, don’t set yourself up with disappointment, it’s not fair on you!

With that said, I hope that you all have had a Merry Christmas and that you have the best start to the New Year!

2018 has to be by far one of the most challenging yet rewarding years in my life. I’ve grown in so many ways, I’ve learned a lot and have definitely faced some hardships whilst enjoying the endeavours of university. With 2019 just a few days away, I wanted to look at my year in review and reflect on the lessons i’ve learned.

I’m going to be honest with you, if you told me in Grade 12 that i’d be in university studying Sports Science I probably would have laughed at you, but life is full of surprises and here I am, 21 years old and I have just finished my first academic year. I’ve learned a great deal of lessons and allowed myself to be open to new ideas and opinions, 16 year old Jeanna would be proud. I low key wish that my younger self knew the things I know now, isn’t that always the case? It’s also partly the reason i’m writing this – for those people who feel lost, unsure and hopeful but also to look back at the successes of this year before celebrating the new year. Here are 12 things I’ve learned in 12 months.

You’re never too old to follow your dreams.

There are countless articles on how people followed their dreams and became successful in the late stages of their life. I know there is this stigma surrounding what age its deemed unacceptable to go to university but honestly, its a load of bull. You live and you learn, I didn’t know Sport Science was even a thing until last year and that’s what made me apply. Yes, I was frightened because I wasn’t fresh out of school but honestly – as soon as you meet people and start gaining some real friends, no one even looks at your age and more often then not people are more likely to be older than younger. If you want to do it, DO IT!

Not everyone has the same heart as you.

This was a tough pill to swallow but a necessary one. This year showed me that if people wanted to make an effort, they would and that no response is a response. Sometimes people don’t have the same morals or respect for you as you do for them but the way you react to them shows your character more than theirs. I have been heavily disappointed by people I thought i’d be friends with forever but it’s important to remember that those who really care, won’t do that to you!

Everything happens for a reason.

As cliche as this sounds, it really is a way of life. I’m a firm believer in things happening exactly the way they are supposed to even when they didn’t go the way you wanted them too. It’s taken me a long time to teach myself not to get upset over situations I cannot control and to make the most of the turn of events. Once you learn how to enjoy every moment, to the fullest as difficult as it may be sometimes – you’ll live a happier, healthier and richer life (figuratively and literally, I hope)

Celebrate the small victories.

Too often I see people frowning for not getting a better mark than what they had expected or for feeling bad for the things they have achieved, it shouldn’t be like that. It’s important to celebrate the small victories, it those that lead you to the big ones. If you got that job promotion or got that distinction, own it. Don’t feel bad because you’re worried of making others upset, you deserve good things just as much as they do. With that said, learn to give yourself and others credit when it is due!

Everything you need to know is inside your head.

This may not be a lesson I’ve learned but it’s a quote that my sister told me right before I wrote a test that I was extremely nervous for. I have passed it onto every friend, acquaintance and animal. I never thought of it then, and although it may be specifically uni related but when you are nervous for a test or even a big job presentation – whatever it may be and i’m talking moments before when the studying is done and you are waiting in line to go and write/present – this is a very true sentiment to go by. This quote is very simple in it’s manner but the meaning it holds is great. When you have spent so much time and effort on studying for a specific test it’s easy to doubt yourself and make yourself believe that you could have studied more or started studying earlier but in all honesty, there is no use worrying about what you can’t change in that moment. You just have to remind yourself that everything you need to know is inside your head and that you got this!

There are bigger things in life.

This is something that i’ve always known but haven’t practiced all too often. Recently life has shown me how quickly things can turn, how fast something unpleasant can happen and how it’s not worth letting the small things get to you. As cliche as it is, cherish every moment as if it were the last. We all experience things in life differently and no one ever experiences the exact same pain but we need to learn that sometimes it’s not worth getting upset over someone not putting the dishes in the dishwasher or packing the milk away once it’s been used. Life is a beautiful thing and we are so lucky with the fact that we have the opportunity to spend it with those who we love, we gotta make it count! Every single passing second!

Everything is temporary.

There were many times throughout the year where I felt as though the whole universe and everyone inside it was against me, where everything seemed to be going wrong all at once and no one was there besides myself to put it all back together but sitting here, at my desk with a hot cuppa and my cuddle bug of a cat next to me, makes me thankful for those difficult times. It taught me how to be patient, how to be kind to myself and I realised how those feelings, that I thought were never going to go away were only temporary and better things did come from it. It’s important to persevere during those difficult times and have faith that something better is around the corner, because it is you just have to remember to push yourself to get there.

There is so much to be thankful for.

An important thing for me that has helped me get through a lot over the past few weeks is that there is strength in family. I am ever so grateful for my family, if it weren’t for each and every one of them I have no idea where I would be now. When they offer their advice even when I really don’t want to hear it, i’ve learned to listen and absorb what they’re saying and i’m so thankful for that. Life is really a wonderful thing and I have so much to be thankful for besides my family. My friends, my boyfriend that offer me so much support and love, a safe place to live and definitely my animals. I really am a lucky girl.

I am not indestructible.

As much as i’d like to make myself believe I am, i’m not and that’s okay. This is something I often struggle with, I give myself so much to do in a short space of time and when I can’t accomplish it all within a ridiculous amount of hours, I become disappointed with myself. This is something that i’ve started coming to terms with, that i’m not invincible and that I do need 8 hours of sleep and to look after myself frequently. Although it’s something i’ve already started working on, it’s definitely one of my new year resolutions.

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and have a safe and Happy New year! x